Method of using market techniques to incentivise and value knowledge building

20060100942

10/961217

October 12, 2004

A method for operating a knowledge market and a knowledge market are disclosed. The method for operating the knowledge market includes creating a knowledge base with a plurality of knowledge assets. A strike value is assigned to each of the knowledge assets. An earned value is calculated for each of the knowledge assets based on the corresponding usage of the knowledge asset.

Williams, Ralph Peter (Danville, CA, US)

1. A method for operating a knowledge market comprising: creating a knowledge base comprising a plurality of knowledge assets; assigning a strike value to each of the knowledge assets; and computing an earned value for each of the knowledge assets based on corresponding usage of each of the plurality of knowledge assets.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a plurality of knowledge accounts, wherein each of the knowledge accounts includes a balance capable of being credited and debited.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising crediting the balance of each knowledge account of the plurality of knowledge accounts that adds a new knowledge asset to the knowledge base.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising debiting the balance of each knowledge account of the plurality of knowledge accounts that uses at least one knowledge asset of the plurality of knowledge asset.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising crediting the balance of each knowledge account of the plurality of knowledge accounts that reviews at least one knowledge asset of the plurality of knowledge assets.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising periodically computing a return on knowledge assets, wherein the return on knowledge asset equals the sum of strike values of the plurality of knowledge assets divided by the sum of the earned value of plurality of knowledge assets.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising periodically computing a return on knowledge asset for each of the plurality of knowledge assets, wherein the return on knowledge asset for each of the plurality of knowledge assets equals its strike value divided by its earned value.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the strike value of a new knowledge asset based on the earned value of a similar knowledge asset from the plurality of knowledge assets.

9. A method for operating a knowledge market comprising: providing a knowledge base comprising a plurality of knowledge assets, wherein each of the plurality of knowledge assets includes a strike value; determining an earned value for each of the plurality of knowledge assets based on a corresponding usage of each of the plurality of knowledge assets; providing a plurality of knowledge accounts, wherein each of the plurality of knowledge accounts includes a balance; permitting each of the plurality of knowledge accounts to increase its balance by adding a new knowledge asset; and permitting each of the plurality of knowledge accounts to pay a portion of its balance to use the knowledge base.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising permitting each of the plurality of knowledge accounts to increase its balance by reviewing one or more of the plurality of knowledge asset in the knowledge base.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising rewarding a portion of the knowledge accounts, wherein the balance of each of the portion of knowledge accounts is equal to or greater than a threshold value.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of adjusting the strike value for each of the plurality of knowledge assets based on its earned value occurs periodically.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising periodically computing a return on knowledge assets, wherein the return on knowledge assets equals a sum of the strike values of the plurality of knowledge assets divided by the sum of the earned values of the plurality of knowledge assets.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising periodically computing a return on knowledge asset for each of the plurality of knowledge assets by dividing the strike value of each of the plurality of knowledge assets by its earned value.

15. A knowledge market comprising: a plurality of knowledge assets, wherein each of the plurality of knowledge assets comprises, a strike value, and an earned value, wherein the earned value reflects usage of the knowledge asset; and a plurality of knowledge accounts, wherein each of the plurality of knowledge accounts includes a balance based on at least one of a strike value, a credit for adding at least one new knowledge asset, a debit for using at least one of the plurality of knowledge assets, and a credit for reviewing at least one of the plurality of knowledge assets.

16. The knowledge management system of claim 15, wherein the earned value is periodically calculated to determine a return on knowledge assets.

17. The knowledge management system of claim 15, further comprising at least one reward balance, wherein the at least one reward balance is a threshold for distributing awards.

18. A computer readable medium for operating a knowledge market, the computer readable medium comprising: program code for recording access to a plurality of knowledge assets, wherein each of the plurality of knowledge assets has a strike value; and program code for periodically computing an earned value for each of the plurality of knowledge assets.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising program code for recording a balance for each of a plurality of knowledge accounts.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising program code for periodically crediting each knowledge account of a plurality of knowledge accounts that adds a new knowledge asset and debiting each knowledge account of a plurality of knowledge accounts that uses at least one of the plurality of knowledge assets.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising program code for periodically crediting each knowledge account of the plurality of knowledge accounts that reviews at least one of the plurality of knowledge assets.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising program code for periodically computing a return on knowledge assets, wherein the return on knowledge assets equals a sum of the strike values of the plurality of knowledge assets divided by the sum of the earned values of the plurality of knowledge assets.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising program code for periodically computing a return on knowledge asset for each of the plurality of knowledge assets, wherein the return on knowledge asset for each of the plurality of knowledge assets equals its strike value divided by its earned value.

705035/000

06

edspap.20060100942